Friday, 6 July 2012

Welcome to our first attempt to produce an ECOA Newsletter. We hope that the presence of the newsletter will start to help us build a better organization and bind us all together.
Of course it can only be as good as the input we get from you, the members, so please send us a note, no matter how big or small, on what you or your group have been up to. We would love to know.

For the rest of the letter which is great reading go to ECOA.CA and look for Emcomm Times, you will be glad you did.,

Industry Canada has responded to my questions about what we can and cant do on this new Developemental license.As promised and further to our discussion, here is the Department's further response regarding this issue.

Mr. Hemphill, Thank you for your query regarding the current regulations governing the operation of radio stations licensed in the Developmental Service and utilizing frequencies within the 60 Metre radio band.Authority for the use of this band in Canada is currently granted by means of a Radio Station Licence in the Developmental Service and is valid for operations within Canada only. Although this authority requires the possession of a valid Canadian Amateur Radio Operator's Certificate (with at least a BASIC with Honours qualification) and permits communications with other Amateur Radio stations that have been authorized by their respective countries' administrations, radio stations in the Developmental Service are not considered to be operating within the Canadian Amateur Radio Service.Canadian radio stations that have been authorized to operate within the 60 Metre band by means of a Radio Station Licence in the Developmental Service, may not operate within the USA under the Canada/USA reciprocal agreement as the agreement applies only to the use of frequencies that have been authorized under both the Canadian and the USA Amateur Radio Service.As the 60 Metre radio band is currently not authorized for use within the Canadian Amateur Radio Service, Canadian Amateur Radio stations may not operate within this band under the authority of their Amateur Radio Operator's Certificate. Communications with these stations should be refused and the operators advised that they are in violation of their Amateur Radio Operator's Certificate.Further, as the 60 Metre radio band is currently unavailable for use by Canadian Amateur Radio operators, it is also unavailable for the use of operators visiting Canada, from the USA, or other foreign administrations.The comment period for the proposed inclusion of the 60 Metre radio band within the Canadian Amateur Radio Service has now closed and the Department is presently evaluating the proposal.This response reflects the current regulations governing the use of this band.I trust that this has provided the answer to your query.Sincerely,